Ducks' good times halted by bad loss

Jan. 15, 2011

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

1 of 16

Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov #30 of the Phoenix Coyotes makes a pad save on the shot as Jason Blake #33 of the Anaheim Ducks battles for a rebound during the NHL game at Jobing.com Arena. CHRISTIAN PETERSEN, GETTY IMAGES

1 of 16

Matt Beleskey #39 of the Anaheim Ducks throws a punch at Vernon Fiddler #38 of the Phoenix Coyotes during a fight in the NHL game at Jobing.com Arena on January 15, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Ducks 6-2. CHRISTIAN PETERSEN, GETTY IMAGES

1 of 16

Martin Hanzal #11, Ray Whitney #13, Radim Vrbata #17, Oliver Ekman-Larsson #23 and Adrian Aucoin #33 of the Phoenix Coyotes celebrate after Whitney scored a first period goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the NHL game at Jobing.com Arena on January 15, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. CHRISTIAN PETERSEN, GETTY IMAGES

1 of 16

Head coach Randy Carlyle of the Anaheim Ducks talks with his team during a time out from the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on January 15, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. CHRISTIAN PETERSEN, GETTY IMAGES

1 of 16

Goaltender Jonas Hiller #1 of the Anaheim Ducks covers the puck after a pad save as Martin Hanzal #11 of the Phoenix Coyotes skates in during the first period of the NHL game at Jobing.com Arena on January 15, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. CHRISTIAN PETERSEN, GETTY IMAGES

1 of 16

Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov #30 of the Phoenix Coyotes makes a glove save on the shot as Brandon McMillan #64 of the Anaheim Ducks skates in during the NHL game at Jobing.com Arena on January 15, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. CHRISTIAN PETERSEN, GETTY IMAGES

1 of 16

Lubomir Visnovsky #17 of the Anaheim Ducks skates with the puck past Scottie Upshall #8 of the Phoenix Coyotes during the NHL game at Jobing.com Arena on January 15, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. CHRISTIAN PETERSEN, GETTY IMAGES

1 of 16

Shane Doan #19 of the Phoenix Coyotes skates with the puck past Andy Sutton #25 of the Anaheim Ducks during the NHL game at Jobing.com Arena on January 15, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Ducks 6-2. CHRISTIAN PETERSEN, GETTY IMAGES

1 of 16

Goaltender Curtis McElhinney #31 of the Anaheim Ducks makes a blocker save on the shot as Toni Lydman #32 and Martin Hanzal #11 of the Phoenix Coyotes skate in during the NHL game at Jobing.com Arena on January 15, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Ducks 6-2. CHRISTIAN PETERSEN, GETTY IMAGES

1 of 16

Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Derek Morris, right, fends off Anaheim Ducks right winger George Parros, left, in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011, in Glendale, Ariz. PAUL CONNORS, AP

1 of 16

Anaheim Ducks left winger Matt Beleskey (39) gains control of the puck in front of Phoenix Coyotes center Martin Hanzal (11), of the Czech Republic, in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011, in Glendale, Ariz. PAUL CONNORS, AP

1 of 16

Phoenix Coyotes left winger Ray Whitney (13) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal against the Anaheim Ducks in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011, in Glendale, Ariz. Whitney earned his 900th career point on the goal. PAUL CONNORS, AP

1 of 16

Anaheim Ducks left winger Matt Beleskey, right, is congratulated by teammate Bobby Ryan, left, after scoring a goal against the Phoenix Coyotes in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011, in Glendale, Ariz. PAUL CONNORS, AP

1 of 16

Phoenix Coyotes defenseman David Schlemko, left, collides with Anaheim Ducks right winger Corey Perry, right, in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011, in Glendale, Ariz. PAUL CONNORS, AP

1 of 16

Phoenix Coyotes left winger Paul Bissonnette, left, checks Anaheim Ducks defenseman Luca Sbisa, right, of Italy, in front of the Coyotes' bench in the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011, in Glendale, Ariz. The Coyotes won 6-2. PAUL CONNORS, AP

1 of 16

Goaltender Jonas Hiller #1 of the Anaheim Ducks looks up a the video board during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on January 15, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. CHRISTIAN PETERSEN, GETTY IMAGES

Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov #30 of the Phoenix Coyotes makes a pad save on the shot as Jason Blake #33 of the Anaheim Ducks battles for a rebound during the NHL game at Jobing.com Arena. CHRISTIAN PETERSEN, GETTY IMAGES

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Perhaps it was unrealistic to take down a scorching hot Phoenix Coyotes team for a third consecutive time in its building.

Maybe it was simply time for the Ducks' winning ways to cease.

Whatever the reason, the Ducks watched the good vibes from a successful homestand dissipate into desert air Saturday in a 6-2 loss in front of 10,951 at Jobing.com Arena.

The Ducks simply yielded to the Coyotes, who improved to 6-0-2 over their past eight games and made the Ducks look like a shell of the team that just went 5-1 without captain Ryan Getzlaf.

"We couldn't play worse," Andy Sutton said. "It was a total lack of execution and desire at this level."

The Ducks might have accepted the loss had it been closer, but a horrid second period saw Phoenix score three goals to blow open a tie score.

Adrian Aucoin started it when he scored on a slap shot from the right side just 31 seconds into the second.

Coach Randy Carlyle called a timeout shortly after that goal.

"I told them we weren't getting involved and we were just basically playing shinny," Carlyle said. "We allowed them to dictate the pace of the game and we didn't have very much resistance in the hockey game.

"They won all the one-on-one battles. They had much more desire and much more energy than we did."

Goalie Jonas Hiller received little help. He saw a lot of traffic and was exposed to a two-on-none break as Sami Lepisto converted a Ray Whitney pass for a 4-1 lead. Curtis McElhinney replaced Hiller.

The bright side for the Ducks is that Hiller will be ready to play tonight against Edmonton.

"It's important how we're going to react (tonight)," Hiller said. "It will show if we're an average team or a good team. If we find a way to re-group ourselves and play well, we definitely have improved. But if we play a game like tonight again, it looks like we haven't learned anything."

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.